Tilting converter with a bow-shaped carrier frame and an exchangeable converter vessel



March 9. 7 w. LIXENFELD 3,307,841 TILTING CONVERTER WITH A BOW-SHAPEDCARRIER FRAME I AND AN EXCHANGEABLE CONVERTER VESSEL Filed NOV. 19, 19652 Sheets-Sheet l ,March 7, I967 W.'LIXENFEl- D 3,307,841

TILTING CONVERTER WITH A BOW-SHAPED CARRIER FRAME AND AN EXCHANGEABLECONVERTER VESSEL Filed Nov. 19, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 14 0034;4 /XE/VFL 0 United States Patent 3,307,841 Patented Mar. 7, 19673,307,841 TILTING CONVERTER WITH A BOW-SHAPED CARRIER FRAME AND ANEXCHANGE- ABLE CQNVERTER VESSEL Wolfgang Lixenfeld, Zweibrucker Str. 15,Coiogne-Nippes, Germany Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 324,620 Claimspriority, appliclgtign Germany, Nov. 23, 1962, Claims. (Cl. 266-36) Thisinvention relates to a tilting converter for steel manufacture, providedwith a bow-shaped carrier frame in which is positioned an exchangeableconverter vessel which can be deposited on a car having a slidableplatform.

The known types of converter carrier frames are mostly of bow-shaped orring-shaped configuration, and, as such, are customarily installed orset in between the converter vessel and the converter carrier frame insuch a manner that the tilting trunnions of the vessel are arrangedsimultaneously in the carrier frame and in the converter stand.According to another type of converter, it has been proposed to have aseparate journal arrangement where the converter vessel is carried withclaws or arms in the carrier frame, and this vessel is first journalledby means of trunnion pins in the converter stand.

The present invention relates to an improvement on the last-mentionedseparate journal arrangement, which has as its basic object to provide adevice which undertakes, with the aid of the carrier frame, to make itpossible to exchange the converter vessel without requiring thegenerally customary hub installations usually arranged either on thecarrier frame or on the converter stand or on a converter transportcarriage, which hub installations must be especially carefully perfectedand fitted according to the size of the vessel.

An object of this invention resides in the provision of a tiltingconverter provided with means for raising and lowering the vesselthereof while permitting the tiltable vessel to remain in a verticalposition.

A further object of the invention lies in the use of a carrier frame onwhich a tilting vessel is removably journalled by trunnions. The carrierframe itself is mounted by means of tilting stub shafts on a supportstand with the tilting stub shafts offset from the trunnions. The use oflocking means between the carrier frame and the vessel permit thealternative use of the tilting drive means normally used for tilting thevessel to be used for raising and lowering the vessel to facilitatereplacement thereof.

An additional object of the invention is to provide for removal andexchange of tilting vessels from a carrier therefor, by means ofdetachable bearing assemblies.

Thus, it may be seen that, in accordance with the concepts of thisinvention there is provided a tilting converter having a support standwith tipping pins rotatably mounted in said stand. There is a bow-shapedcarrier frame fixed to said tipping pins, and an exchangeable tiltingvessel having trunnions fixed thereto is journalled in the carrierframe. The trunnions are offset from said tipping pins. Means areprovided on said tipping pins for rotating said tipping pins and hencesaid carrier frame to raise and lower said tilting vessel.

To these ends, and in accordance with the present invention, theconverter vessel can be journalled over its carrier trunnions bydetachable-cover journals located in the bow-shaped swingable carrierframe, and this frame in turn, with its pin for engaging the vessel fortilting purposes, is journalled on trunnions in a converter supportstand. The converter vessel is exchangeable with the aid of theswingable carrier frame. By means of this arrangement it is possible toachieve an exchange of one r trunnions.

converter vessel for another by a simple swinging or pivoting motion ofthe bow-shaped carrier frame.

According to a further feature of the invention, when the convertervessel is in its operating position, the respective journal centers inthe bow-shaped carrier frames for the carrier trunnions as well as forthe tilting pins each preferably lie.on the longitudinal axis of thevessel. By this arrangement the flow of forces can be taken over in asimple manner from both of the journal places.

To obtain a desired influence of the progress of the converter tippingmoment, it is advantageous if, in accordance with a further feature ofthe invention, in the operating position of the converter vessel thetilting pin bearings located in the bow-shaped carrier frame arearranged opposed to the vessel trunnion journal and offset relative tothe longitudinal axis of the vessel.

For an appropriate opposed journalling of the vessel it is furtherprovided, in accordance with another feature of the invention, that thevessel is joined with the bowshaped carrier frame by means of a nestingbolt which engages a lug in the vessel and rests within a recess of thecarrier frame, the direction of the engaged nesting bolt being such thatits extended axis intersects the longitudinal axis of the vessel at thecentral horizontal axis of the This nesting pin is only disengaged foran exchange of vessels and is replaced into position again into thenewly exchanged vessel.

In order to provide for a pendulous movement of the vessel duringoperation, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, theconverter vessel can also be connected to the bow-shaped carrier frameby means of a penduiously arranged oscillating device, guided by meansof a pin guide or trunnion guide on the vessel whereby the converter canbe set into a to and fro pendulous swinging motion to provide anagitation of the molten bath during and/or after the oxygen blowingoperation.

In order to carry out a rapid exchange of the converter vessel, inaccordance with a further feature of the invention, the detachablejournals for the carrier trunnions may be equipped with securingelements. This securing can be carried out preferably by means of one orseveral pins which can be suitably held fast relative to the trunnionsby means of hydraulically or pneumatically actuable pistons, or throughadjustable threaded spindles.

The swinging movement of the bow-shaped frame for the purpose ofexchanging the vessels can be brought about by means of the alreadyprovided tilting drive, so that a special swinging movement drive or hubturning device is unnecessary.

These, together with various ancillary and other objects and features ofthe invention will become apparent from the following description. Inthe accompanying drawings, various illustrative preferred embodiments ofthe invention are set forth, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a converter with an exchangeable vessel inoperating position, shown in a partial cross section together withacarriage wagon and bow-shaped carrier frame;

FIG. 2 is a partial front view of the vessel of FIG. 1 with afragmentary cross section taken through the carrier trunnion bearing;

FIG. 3 is a side view in accordance with FIG. 1 except that the carrierframe is shown in a different position corresponding to a loweredposition of the converter vessel;

FIGS. 4 through 7 illustrate respectively different embodiments ofseveral other journals for the converter carrier trunnions;

FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.

The same or similar parts are designated by like characters throughoutseveral views.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a converter vessel illustrated in itsoperating position with its carrier runnions 2 pivotally supported in abow-shaped carrier rame 3 having detachable-cover journal 3a. The carierframe 3 which is provided with a vessel-engaging lidable pin 13 whichcan fit into a recess 1a in the lower :uter side wall of the vessel 1.The pin 13 is slidably mounted for longitudinal motion in a cylinderbore 312 y means of its pistol head, movable by means of a hylraulic orpneumatic pressure device or by means such .s a screw spindle. This pin13 is arranged in a direcion so that its extended axis intersects thepoint of interection of the vessel axis y and the axis x of the tiltinghafts 4.

The bow-shaped carrier frame 3 is mounted in the :onverter support stand24 by means of the two tilting tub shafts 4 which shafts at the sametime are provided 11 one or both sides with a tipping drive (not shown)or tilting the vessel 1 by means of gears 14, as shown [1 FIG. 2. Thecarrier trunnions 2 and the tipping hafts 4 in operating position of thevessel both lie on the ongitudinal axis y, and are journalled in thebow-shaped arrier frame 3.

After the vessel 1 has been deposited onto the platform L1, as is shownin FIG. 3, the carrier trunnions 2 and the ipping shafts 4 located inthe journal places of the carier bow frame 3 become offset, that istheir centers are ccentrically located from each other a distance a.This listance a is also illustrated in FIG. 1. If the vessel must be setdown, in order to make any necessary relairs to the refractory liningwhich may have become trongly eroded during the oxygen blowing operationby neans of the oxygen lance 50, or in order to repair any vther damagewhich may have taken place, this is ccomplished by means of a swingingupward of the bow rame 3 to the position of FIG. 3. The vessel isdetosited onto a carriage 20, provided with a platform 21 vhich istransversely slidably by means of a crank 22.

By a further swinging of the bow frame 3 upwardly bout the angle a, thevessel 1, after loosening and deaching its cover bearing 3a, can betransported away by neans of the carriage wagon 20 and a reconditionedsubtitute vessel 1 can now be introduced on a second simiar carriagewagon 20. After an adjustment of its horiontal stub-shaft axis 2 overthe transversely slida-ble llatform 21, the bow 3 frame can then beswung down lift up this substitute vessel by engaging its carrierrunnions 2. The bearings 3a on the bow frame 3 en- ;age the carrier pins2, so that after a downward swingng movement of the bow frame 3 thevessel comes into he operating position of FIG. 1. The pins 13 located nthe carrier bow 3 are shifted into place to engage the ecesses 1a of theconverter vessel 1.

The bow frame 3 can also be provided on its transerse yoke with anadditional swinging device for persitting a pendulous movement of thevessel 1, by means f a linkage (not shown) or pendulum pins at thelocaion of the pins 13.

With the aid of the swingable bow frame 3, in accordnce with theinvention, it is thus possible in a simple ."lanner and within a shorttime to accomplish an exhange of the converter vessel 1 whereby theadjustment f the value a for the mutually eccentric positioning of hecarrier trunnions 2 and the tilting shafts 4, each iloated in thecarrier bow frame 3, provides a construcive leverage apparatus for alifting up of the great weight f the vessel 1 and from its raisedposition to lower and .eposit it onto the carriage wagon 20.

The tilting shafts 4 which, as illustrated in FIG. 1, are erticallyaligned under the carrier pins 2 in the carrier ow frame 3 in theoperating position of the vessel, need lot necessarily be mounted at thepoint of intersection /I of the longitudinal axis y of the vessel withthe horizontal axis x of the tipping shafts 4. The lateral posiioning(relative to FIG. 1) of the tipping shafts can,

in accordance with the invention, be carried out also outside of thislongitudinal axis y, either towards the right along the horizontal axisx to increase the value a, or to the left up to the point M to reducethe value a until the value a become zero. By this positioning of thestub-shafts 4, there must however follow simultaneously also acorresponding eccentric positioning of the tilting drive 14 with achange of the tilting moment of the vessel 1. By means of the sameshafts 4, the abovementioned swinging device of the vessel 1 can actupon the molten bath of liquid located within the vessel, whereby thiseccentric positioning is made to achieve an intensive mixing of the meltwith an increased efliciency of reaction therein.

The detachable housing for the journal of the carrier trunnions 2 of theexchangeable vessel 1 comprises, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1to 3, of a simple cover bearing 3a which is threadedly attachable. Inorder to decrease the bearing friction about the carrier pins 2, therecan be arranged suitable bearing cups or races, provided with balls,rollers or the like. The example of an embodiment of a bearing accordingto FIG. 4 illustrates, on the carrier trunnions 2, journal bodies 43which are slidable and which are threadedly engageable at their flanges,with the bow frame 3. The bearing bodies 43 are provided with an innerrace 42 and with a trapezoidal-shaped bottom which guidingly engageswith lateral play a trapezoidal-shaped recess 35 of the bow frame 3 topermit guiding of the journal body 43 into place. The inclined surface45a of the bearing housing must in this case correspond at least to theslope position y-3 of the vessel axis y when the bow frame 3 is in upperpivoted position for lifting the vessel.

In accordance with a further embodime nt of the bearing illustrated inFIG. 5, the carrier trunnions 2 of the vessel 1 are fixedly mountedwithin a cylinder of an upper extended neck 3h of the carrier frame 3. Apiston guide is made slidably drivable in this cylinder, so that the pinend 51 can be guided into a predetermined recess located in the trunnion2, as long as the vessel 1 remains in the illustrated position of FIG. 5over and against the carrier frame 3 with the carrier frame in itsresting position. Also, in accordance with this embodiment, a half cup52 is provided below the trunnion 2 which can be provided with frictionreducing means. By properly inclining the cup 52, relative to the axisy-3, the setting-in of the trunnions 2 can take place without lateraldamage.

In accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 6 the vessel trunnions 2 arerotatably retained at both sides on the carrier frame 3 by means ofhydraulically or pneumatically actuable pistons capable of movingtowards and away from the trunnion pins 2. Bearing elements 61 areattached to the pistons 60 and have their ends shaped to conform to thecontour of the trunnions 2, and a special semi-circular bottom cupbearing 62 is provided to minimize bearing friction.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 a separate embodiment is illustrated for guiding andlocking the trunnion bearing in the carrier frame 3, locked bearing cups72 rotatably mounted on the trunnions 2 are each provided with aprotruding cam 73. The cam 73 is engageable with a semi-circular recess30 located in the carrier frame 3. A securing bolt takes over thesecuring of the cup 72 to the frame 3, so that in order to exchange thevessel 1 this pin 80' must first be removed. The surface of recess 30may also be provided with a corresponding friction-reducing bearing fora decrease in the bearing friction.

All of the bearing embodiments of FIGS. 4-8 are so arranged and layedout that they have securing means to prevent any self-loosening of thetrunnion 2 from its bearing position in the carrier frame 3.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, upon studying thisdisclosure, that devices according to my invention can be modified invarious respects and hence may be embodied in apparatus other thanparticularly illustrated and described herein, without departing fromthe essential features of my investion and within the scope of theclaims annexed hereto.

I claim:

1. A tilting converter comprising a support stand, tipping pinsrotatably mounted in said stand, a bow-shaped carrier frame rfixed tosaid tipping pins, an exchangeable tilting vessel having trunnions fixedthereto, said trunnions being journalled in said carrier frame, saidtrunnions being offset from said tipping pins, and means on said tippingpins for rotating said tipping pins and hence said carrier frame toraise and lower said tilting vessel.

2. A tilting converter according to claim 1, wherein said tipping pinsand said trunnions lie in alignment along the vertically extendinglongitudinal axis of said tilting vessel when said vessel is inoperating position.

3. A tilting converter according to claim 1, wherein said trunnions areeccentric to the longitudinal axis of said tilting vessel when saidvessel is in operating position.

4. A tilting converter comprising a support stand, tipping pinsrotatably mounted in said stand, a bow-shaped carrier frame fixed tosaid tipping pins, an exchangeable tilting vessel having trunnions fixedthereto, said trunnions being journalled in said carrier frame, saidtrunnions being offset from said tipping pins, operating means on saidtipping pins for rotating said tipping pins and hence said carrier frameto raise and lower said tilting vessel, and locking means on saidcarrier frame for detachably locking said carrier frame to said tiltingvessel for tilting said tilting vessel upon actuation of said operatingmeans.

5. A tilting converter according to claim 4 wherein said locking meansincludes a pin having an axis, the extension of said pin axisintersecting the intersection point of the longitudinal axis of saidtilting vessel and the axis of said tilting pins when said frame is inposition for operation of said vessel.

6. A tilting converter according to claim 5 wherein said locking meansincludes an axially movable pin on 6 said carrier frame, said tiltingvessel having a recess therein, said pin being engageable in saidrecess.

7. A tilting converter comprising a support stand, tipping pinsrotatably mounted in said stand, a bow-shaped carrier frame fixed tosaid tipping pins, an exchangeable tilting vessel having trunnions fixedthereto, said trunnions being journalled in said carrier frame, saidtrunnions being offset from said tipping pins, and means having a guidemounted on said carrier frame for swingably joining said carrier frameto said tilting vessel so as to permit constrained swinging motion ofsaid vessel relative to said frame during operation of the converter.

8. A tilting converter comprising a support stand, tipping pinsrotatably mounted in said stand, a bow-shaped carrier frame fixed tosaid tipping pins, an exchangeable tilting vessel having trunnions fixedthereto, bearing means journalling said trunnions in said carrier frame,said trunnions being offset from said tipping pins, means on saidtipping pins for rotating said tipping pins and hence said carrier frameto raise and lower said tilting vessel, said bearing means beingdetachable and replaceable, and security elements for holding saidtrunnions in said bearing means.

9. A tilting converter according to claim 8 wherein said securityelements include fluid actuated piston means on said carrier frame forengaging said trunnions.

10. A tilting converter according to claim 8 wherein said securityelements include spindles threadedly secured to said carrier frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,042,876 10/1912 Blackwood 2663 6 1,266,828 5/ 1918 Lane 2282 2,094,736 10/1937Coffey 2281 FOREIGN PATENTS 825,455 12/ 1951 Germany.

Joins F. CAMPBELL, Primary Examiner.

.T. M. ROMANCHIK, Assistant Examiner.

1. A TILTING CONVERTER COMPRISING A SUPPORT STAND, TIPPING PINSROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID STAND, A BOW-SHAPED CARRIER FRAME FIXED TOSAID TIPPING PINS, AN EXCHANGEABLE TILTING VESSEL HAVING TRUNNIONS FIXEDTHERETO, SAID TRUNNIONS BEING JOURNALLED IN SAID CARRIER FRAME, SAIDTRUN-